News - August 2019 RSS Feed

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, former prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches and a longtime Vatican diplomat, died at the age of 95.

By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY  — While listening to and obeying God’s word brings healing and comfort to those in need, it also can attract disdain and even hatred from others, Pope Francis said.

“No matter where you come from you bring gifts to the Church,” Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, said Aug. 24 at Mass at the Region 7 Charismatic Congress in Beaumont. “We all bring our own culture. And what unites us is our faith.” From seven dioceses the Catholic faithful gathered at the event for fellowship, testimony, worship and prayer.

“Today we welcome Father Sam  into our diocese and our Church,” Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, said as he welcomed Father Sam Igbafe, MSP, as the new pastor of Our Mother Mercy, Beaumont, Aug. 25 during Mass.

WASHINGTON— Today, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, Chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, condemned the final rule published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) relating to the care and custody of immigrant children under the Flores Settlement Agreement.

The Catholic faithful gathered from across the Diocese of Beaumont for the Bishop’s Faith Appeal Intentions Mass celebrated by Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, Aug. 22 at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont.

No one is too old to become an American citizen. Take Father Luis Urriza, OSA, for example! Father Urriza, pastor of Cristo Rey, Beaumont, was nationalized as an American citizen Aug. 21 at the Jack Brooks Federal Courthouse, Beaumont.

Prayer is the most powerful weapon that God has given to everyone. With the power of prayer, 12 congregations of faith in Port Neches and Groves gathered with community and church members to pray for a great and safe school year ahead at 12 different locations Aug. 19.

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Christians must not be hypocrites, Pope Francis said. Not being a hypocrite, he said, means being ready to “pay the price” of being faithful to the Gospel in concrete situations every day.

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY  — Mary’s assumption into heaven calls people to put aside all those insignificant, mundane and petty concerns competing for their attention and instead be drawn to God and his greatness, Pope Francis said.

Individuals and parishes were recognized during the Diocese of Beaumont’s 2018-19 Faithful Steward Awards. “It’s our involvement,” Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, said about acts of stewardship. “We’re enriched when we do that.” Sacred Heart Parish, Port Arthur, received the Bishop Curtis Guillory Parish Stewardship Award.

During the 2019 Liturgical Conference at the Elegante Hotel, Beaumont Aug. 9-10, people were able to understand liturgy a little bit more. One speaker, Msgr. Rick Hilgartner spoke on the mysterious works of liturgy.

Joe Tortorice, a Catholic steward and servant leader, passed away Aug. 10. Tortorice was a parishioner at St. Anthony’s Cathedral Basilica and the founder of Jason’s Deli. “Joe’s love for his family, friends and fellow human beings was deeply rooted in the love of Christ and nurtured in the Catholic faith,” said Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD.

Although students are not quite ready yet, teachers and staff of the Diocese of Beaumont’s Catholic schools are preparing their classrooms and lessons for the upcoming school year. And what better way to start the new year than with a celebration led by Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD.

Catholic bishops are not only asking for prayers for victims of this weekend’s mass shootings, they are also calling for action to end the violence. At least 31 people were killed and dozens were injured in the incidents that took place Aug. 3 and Aug. 4 in El Paso and Dayton.

By Rhina Guidos, Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Francis joined Catholic Church leaders expressing sorrow after back-to-back mass shootings in the United States left at least 31 dead and dozens injured in Texas and Ohio Aug. 3 and 4.